Fastener-supplying mechanism



'May 1,1928. 1,667,786

C. H. HOYT FASTENER SUPPLYING MECHANI SM v Filed'June 13, 1922 Patented May 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES H. HOYT, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OI NEW JERSEY.

FASTENER-SU'PPLYING MECHANISM.

This invention relates to distributors such as are used in supplying fasteners to the driving instrumentalities in fastenerinsert ing machines, and is illustrated as embodied in a distributor of the type commonly used on pulling over machines, although the invention is not thus limited in its applicability.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a distributor, means for selectively closing different raceways or fastener guides, i. e., for preventing delivery of fasteners from said raceways, as for example in adjusting a machine for inserting more or fewerfasteners or for varying the locations of the fasteners in the work. To attain this object in the construction shown a set of novel separate closing members, one ad acent to each raceway, is provided so that any one or more of these members may be operated to close the corresponding raceways selectively as may be desired. In the illustrated form of the invention, spring-pressed plungers for actuating the closing members are mounted back of the usual removable end block or face plate, to be engaged and remembers in inoperative position, and each 'lun er is rovided with means such as a removable portion for shortening its length so that it will not be held inoperative by the end block and will therefore be held forward under the influence of its spring to rock the corresponding closing member into the adjacent raceway to close it.

Another object of the invention is to improve distributors of this type by providing means for preventing the spilling of fasteners when the end block and separator plate are removed, is sometimes necessary when the fasteners jam in the distributor. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, all of the above described plungers that are not already in advanced position aremoved forward by their springs when the end. block is removed, so that at that time all of the raceways are closed to prevent spilling of fasteners.

The above and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an isometric view, partly broken away, showing the end of the raceway plate of a distributor and parts associated therewith; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of part of the raceway plate shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, my invention may be embodied in a distributor of the type which is provided with a raceway plate'll) in which are formed a plurality of fastener-- guiding raceways 12. Feeding means is provided, including a separator plate 14 which is formed with the usual inclined slots 16 and which is arranged to reciprocate across the ends of the raceways '12 to separate a single fastener from those in each of the several raceways. The fasteners so separated are delivered to chutes 18 formed in a removable end block or face plate 20, locked in position by spring pressed plungers 22 controlled by linger pins 2 f. The end block 20 carries aplate 26 which extends np above the bottom parts of raceways 12-and the reciprocating separator plate 14-. These parts maybe, and are shown as being, the same as the Corresponding parts fully described in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,002,422, granted Sept. 5, 1911, on application of R. F. McFeely.

Adjacent to each raceway 12, and parallel thereto, is a socket in which is mounted a phmg-er 30 pressed outwardly or forwardly by a coil spring 32 and having pivotally mounted thereon a finger 3-1 which slides in an arcuate depressionin'the raceway plate 10, so that it has a. combined lengthwise and rocking movement into and across the correspondingraceway 12 through anopening in the side thereof below the heads of the tacks when the plunger 30 is pressed outwardly by its spring 32. Thus when the end block 20 is removed'all of theplungers 30 are pressed outwardly by their respective springs, so that all of the raceways are closed and spilling of tacks is avoided when the separatorplate is afterwards removed.

Each plunger 30 is formed with a remov able portion such as a tap screw 36, and

when it is desired selectively to shut off any" one or more of the raceways 12, the end block 20 is removed and tap screws 36 are removed from plungers 30 corresponding to the raceways 12 which are to be closed. When the end block 20 is replaced the plungers 3O shortened by removal of their screws 36 will not be operated by engagement with block 20 and the corresponding raceways 12- will remain closed.

While one embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described, it is not my intention to limit its scope thereby or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims and it is also to be understood that while the invention is illustrated by relerence to a distributor adapted for use with tacks or nails, in many of its aspects it is not dependent upon the form of the fasteners.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A. distributor coiinn'ising in combination, a plurality of 'laslenerguiding raceways corresponding in number to the number of fasteners that can be delivered from the distributo at a time lastener-separating means for separating fasteners from the lower ends ol said raceways. and a plurality of racewayclosing devices, one for each of said racmvays, comprising pivoted members movable to change the locations ol their while entering the raceways laterally to close thenn said members being manually controllable thus to close and to maintain continuously closed, at the will of the operator any selected number of the raceways.

2. A distributor comprising. in combination. a plurality of fastener-guiding raceways corresponding in number to the number of fasteners that can be delivered from the distributor at a time. lastener-separating means for separating Fasteners from the lower ends of said raceways, and a plurality of raceway-closing devices. one. for each of said raceways comprising" curved lingers slidiugjly movable lengthwise in predetermined paths transversely ol. the respective raceways below the heads of the fasteners and manually controllable each independently of the others to close and to maintain continuously closed. at the will of the operator, any selected number ol the raccways.

3. A distriluitor comprising. in conibimu tion, a, plurality oi": raceways, separating means for separating fasteners from the lower ends ol' said raceways, and a plurality of pivotally mounted lingers, one adjacent to each raceway. each controllable llltluptllllently of the others and movable both bodily and about its axis to project a portion thereoi through an opening at the side of the race.- way to close the raceway and maintain it continuously closed at the will of the operator.

in combination, a plurality of raceways, means for separating fasteners from said raceways, a corresponding plurality oi? lingers each mounted for combined rocking and lengtlnvise movement into the correspomling raceway to close it, and spring means for thus moving each of said lingers independently of the others.

A distributor comprising, in combina tion a plurality oi raccways, means l'or sepm rating l'astcncrs l'rom said raceways. a cor-- responding plurality oi raceway-closing lingers adjacent to the dillcrcnt respective raccways. a plurality of springs. one l'or each linger, lior operating said lingers to close the adjacent raceuavm and a device common to all the lingers for withdrawing the lingers to idle positions against the resistance ol their springs.

(i. A distributor comprisiim. in combinalion, :1 raceway plate having a plurality of raceways formed therein and a socket beside and substantially parallel to each raceway a. spring-prteaaat plunger in each ot said sockets. and a raceway-closing linger mounted on each of said plungcrs to be operated thereby to close the corresponding racc way.

'I. A distributor comprising. in ombinaion. a plurality of racewarvs. l'ecdine' means neoclatcd therewith. a displaeeahlc member It the lower ends of the. raccways, and means to close all ol said raceways above the lccdin means when said member is displaced.

8. fl distributor comprising, in combination. a plurality of racewavs. separator means therefor. a (.lisplaccable member at. the lower ends of the racovvays. and m ains rein dercd operative by displzu-emcnt of said member to close the raceways above the sepa raior means.

5). A distributor comprising. in combinalion. a plurality ol raccways. a separator dcviee therel'or. a corrcspomliu; plurality ol raceway closing devices respect ively :nljaccnl to the several raccways and located above the separator device. a member removable to all'ord access to the lower ends of the raceways. and means for omaratin; raid closin; devices simultaucously to close the raceways when said member is rcu'iovcd.

10. A distributor comprising. in combination. a plurality ol raccwzrvs. a separator device therelor. a removable mcn'il'ier at the lower ends of the met-Nays. and a corresponding plurality ol' spring pressed plung-- ers cuganinn' said member and each carrying a raceway closing linger above the separator device, so eonstruelml and arranged that on removal ol said uien'lhcr the plungers move the lingers across their respective raccwavs to close them. i

ll. A distributor comprising. in combina tion. a raceway for 'l'asteners. a device movable. into or out of position to obstruct the movement of fasteners along the raceway,

IOU

illl' said device comprising a controllingmember movable lengthwise of the .rfa'cewa and a finger movable intothe path ofthe asteners in response to movement of said member, and means adjacent to said device for successively feeding fasteners from the raceway when they are not'blocked by said finger.

12. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway for fasteners, a device movable into or out of position to obstruct the movement of fasteners along the raceway, said device comprising a controlling member movable lengthwise of the raceway and a linger pivoted on said member and arranged to engage a portion of the distributor to be turned thereby into or out of the path of the fasteners in response to movement of said member, and fastenenfeeding means adjacent to said device. v

13. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway for fasteners, a member removable to afford access to the lower end of said raceway, and a controlling device movable into or out of position to obstruct the movement of fasteners along the raceway and arranged to be held in inoperative position by said removable member and to be released to render it operative upon the removal of said member, said controlling device including means whereby it may be rendered operative to obstruct the movement of the fasteners also when said member is in place.

14. A distributor comprising, in combi nation, a raceway for fasteners, a member removable to afford access to the lower end of said raceway, and a device arranged to be controlled by said removable member to render it operative to obstruct movement of fasteners along the raceway when said memher is removed and to render it inoperative when said member is in place, said device including means whereby it may be rendered continuously operative to obstruct the movement of the fasteners independently of the control of said member.

15. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway, a removable member at the end of said raceway, a raceway-closing tinger, and a spring pressed member for operating said finger having a removable portion engaging said end member to hold the raceway closing finger in inoperative position, and so constructed and arranged that when said portion is removed the raceway remains closed.

16. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway, a removable end block at the lower end of said raceway, and a springpressed raceway closing device having a removable portion to engage said block to hold the closing device in .inopeative position.

17. A distributor comprising, in combination, a plurality of raceways, a pivotally mounted raceway closing finger adjacent to each raceway and mounted to oscillateacross the raceway to close it, and a finger-operating plunger parallel to each raceway.

18 A distributor device comprising,'in combination, a source ofsupply of fasteners, a plurality offeed guideseach-directing a series of fasteners from said source, said guides having a common removable portion, means for selectively closing one or more guides, and means rendered operative by removal of said common portion for-closing all of the guides not previously selectively closed.

19. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway for fasteners, a separator for controlling delivery of fastners from said raceway, a member displaoeable at the will of the operator to afford access to the interior of the distributor, and means for insuring closure of the raceway whenever said member is displaced. v

20. A distributor comprising, in combination, a plurality of 'aceways, separating means for controlling delivery of fasteners from said raceways, a member displaceableat the will of the operator to' aflord access to the lower ends of the raceways, devices movable into .or out of position to close the different respective raceways, and means for insuring closure of all the raceways by said. devices whenever said member is displaced.

21. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway for fasteners, a separator for controlling deliveryof fasteners from said raceway, a member displaceable at the will of the operator to afford access to the interior of the distributor, and a device controlled by said displaceable member forpreventing movement of fasteners along the raceway when said member is displaced.

22. A distributor comprising, in combination, a plurality of raceways, devices for closing the different respective raceways, said devices being movable independently of one another to close some of the raceways While the other raceways remain open, a. member displaceable at the will of the operator to afford access to the lower ends of the raceways, and means for insuring the closure of said other raceways whenever said member is displaced.

23. A distributor comprising, in combination, a raceway, a member displaceable at the will of the operator to afford access to the lower end of saidraceway, and a race way closing device arranged to be engaged by said displaceable member to hold said device in inoperative position, said device includinga portion displaceable at will to pre vent it from being held in inoperative positionby said member. Y

24. A distributor comprising, in combinalower end of said raceway, and a raceway closing device comprising a member movable into or out of the raceway and a plunger movable lengthwise of the raceway to control said member, said plunger being arranged to be held by said displaceable member in position to maintain the raceway closing member inoperative and having means for varying its eifective length to permit the closin of the raceway b said closing member w en the displaceab e member is in operative position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. HO YT. 

